Emissions Due to Construction Equipment and Traffic Delays

Project Description

The Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission (TNRCC), later renamed to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, was developing State Implementation Plans (SIPs) in 2000 for Dallas/Ft. Worth, Houston/Galveston, and Beaumont/Port Arthur. These SIPs contained requirements that would limit the use of diesel-powered construction equipment (>50 hp) during morning hours (6:00 AM – 10:00 AM for Dallas from June 1 – October 31 and 6:00 AM – noon for Houston all year.) TNRCC photochemical modeling indicated that ozone reductions were possible by reducing diesel construction equipment emissions during the morning hours when ozone precursors are being produced. The proposed construction equipment restrictions were expected to increase construction costs for TxDOT and extend the time needed to complete projects. Increased construction time was expected to lead to additional congestion on project corridors.

This project had several primary objectives: 1) assess use of controls on heavy-highway construction in other states, 2) review the TNRCC analysis and documentation relating to construction emissions, 3) evaluate use of empirically-based construction site emissions data, 4) assess the potential project cost and schedule impacts to TxDOT from the construction equipment rule, 5) assess the potentials for alternative emission control technologies, and 6) evaluate the impacts of work zone lane closures on emissions from affected traffic. The research included literature reviews, extensive interviews with contacts within and outside of Texas. Recommendations were provided for consideration as TxDOT responded to the construction equipment rule.

Project Publications

Potential Cost and Schedule Impact of Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission's Proposed Rule Restricting the Use of Construction Equipment 0-4190-3

Potential Emission Reduction Effects of Alternative Construction Equipment Control Measures 0-4190-5

Assessment of Impacts from Construction Equipment Restrictions in Select Texas Nonattainment Areas 0-4190-6

Effect of and Alternatives to Restricting Operation of Construction Equipment to Improve Regional Air Quality 0-4190-S

Control Measure Comparison Tables 0-4190-P1

Emissions Due to Construction Equipment and Traffic Delays-- Task 6: Contribution of Vehicular Emissions Caused by Reduction in Capacity During Roadway Construction 0-4190-4

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